There is no firm date as to when online bingo started, but according to many of the leading figures in the online bingo industry today – the year was 2000.

At that time the online casino industry was already well established with industry leaders such as Microgaming, Casino On Net, Cryptologic, Bodog and Boss Media (to name a handful) powering hundreds of casino gaming websites offering roulette, craps and blackjack.

At the same time that Online Bingo started becoming popular – online Poker was in the midst of its Boom years. There was not an article which spoke about the online gambling industry that did not mention Party Poker.

So it is not a co-incidence that online Bingo slipped onto the scene relatively under the radar – so to speak.
The game itself is one of the oldest "risk games "around. The game of Bingo has always revolved around covering numbers, once those numbers were called out publically. Since the 14th century the game has evolved as it spread from Italy, to France and on through Europe. It was around the time of the Great Depression that the game arrived in America where it underwent some further expansion to finally become what we know today as Bingo.

In 2000, online bingo added a brand new channel of distribution for the age old game of Bingo.
Online Bingo or Internet Bingo has become the most modern iteration of the game. Software developers used random number generators to recreate the bingo ball spinner. Everything about the experience of hall bingo was replicated into online bingo. Online Bingo players are able to buy virtual bingo cards – both 75 ball and 90 ball cards. Virtual bingo games are offered which mirror the cover deigns and coverall jackpots of the hall based game.

Bingo has always been an easy game to play – the rules are easy to understand and this has been one of the key reasons that bingo has become one of the most loved and played games on earth. It is a game for the masses. Online Bingo is the same – an added benefit to online bingo is that players can choose auto dabbing – meaning that the software covers your number when it is called. The benefit to this option is that as opposed to hall bingo where you have to listen intently to the caller – in online bingo you can relax knowing that your best interest are been taken care of and you won’t miss a number.

In game chat functionality, is a cornerstone of the online bingo industry. Players can chat amongst each other, congratulate each other and share good banter while games are being called.

Many online bingo sites highlight the chat functionality as being a key offering to potential players. It’s an important point because the online bingo chat functionality adds to the experience and replicates one of the greatest aspects about bingo – making friends, and building a community.

Many online bingo communities meet at the local bar or pub to have a few drinks – virtual drinks has still a way to go to feel like the real thing

It has been reported that online bingo is growing rapidly in the UK and Spain. According to a recent UK online bingo report 82% of online bingo players are women – 60% of which are below the age of 40 and 38% below the age of 55.

Online Bingo is now maturing – there are hundreds of online bingo sites available to players and whereas in 2000 online bingo may have slipped onto the scene – today’s it’s very much a mainstay in the online gaming industry.